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| Harshest winter phase ‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends in Kashmir , Chillai-khurd begins ‘Cold wave will persist till Feb 2’: Director MeT | | |  Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 31: Even as ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter ended on Saturday, Kashmir still reels under severe cold conditions.
The Chillia Kalan witnessed three major spells of snowfall and the latest forecast predicts no respite from the bone-chilling cold until Feb 2.
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus, told early times that said the cold wave will persist till Feb 2.
“The weather will generally remain cloudy from February 1-4 with the possibility of light snowfall at isolated places especially on higher reaches of J&K and Kargil,” he said.
During the 40 day, Chilai Kalan period, the valley witnessed a severe cold and record low temperatures of 29 years.
As per the traffic department, the Srinagar - Jammu highway remained closed for almost 16 days from 21 December due to bridge collapse, landslides, and shooting stones.
Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
Kashmir has also been witnessing the sub-zero temperatures since the day Chillai Kalan commenced.
The sub-zero temperature has led to the taps running dry as most of the water supply lines stand frozen. “After a long time we have witnessed a winter that’s reminiscent of the past. During the past years we used to witness short snow spells. Denizens of Srinagar city had completely forgotten about what the winter is all about,” said, a 70-year old, Feroz Ahmad of Nishat area.
He said, “We had become so busy in our lives we had forgotten what Chillai Kalan means. We have witnessed this type of winter when we were young.
I am happy that the younger generation this year has realized how the winter in Kashmir used to be in the yesteryears.”
Another resident Habib- Ullah said, “We need to give credit to the Power Department for ensuring smooth power supply despite Kashmir witnessing a very heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. The gadgets that run on electricity helped us to fight the bone breaking cold. Had the Valley got plunged into darkness as it used to happen in the past life would have become very difficult for us.” He said, “Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has not been able to clear the snow bound lanes and by lanes as it doesn’t have the proper equipment at place. Srinagar Mayor has made it clear that snow cannot be cleared from interior lanes without machinery.”
He said, “Most bye-lanes in Srinagar have turned into small glaciers as the snow has become hard due to temperature falling below zero degree Celsius. We will have to bear till the sun shines as the SMC has resigned by expressing its helplessness.”
He said, “This winter has taught us that we need to remain ready to face the harsh winter period of 40-days every year.
Despite many things changing the past few years the winter in Kashmir has not changed and it’s a good omen.” |
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